'BEATING England at Twickenham last week was my World Cup final, I'm happy to go now."

Those were the words of Springbok lock Bakkies Botha uttered in the bowels of the Stadio Euganeo after the Boks had beaten Italy 22-6.

Botha called time on his illustrious Test career in a similar way to how he played - without fanfare and forcefully - moments after the Boks had wrapped up their second victory on tour.

News of Botha's apparently sudden retirement rippled through the media centre leading to lots of hand gestures and raised eyebrows from the press contingent. Even Italian captain Sergio Parisse was caught by surprise when he heard the news: "I didn't know that, I'm sorry to hear it. I wish him well."

But Botha was comfortable with the timing and with the decision.

"I came to the final decision as I walked off the Twickenham pitch after last week's win over England," Botha said.

"I had blood on my face, but I was happy because this was what playing rugby to me is all about.

"I'd just completed a tough game, against a tough opponent at a stadium that will host the World Cup final next year. I thought: 'This is my World Cup final, playing against England at Twickenham. This is how it's meant to be.

"It was an emotional week for me but for here on it's a new life that starts for me. My wife has a husband again and my children have a father for the first time. I have a few more months of hard work at Toulon and then I can return home."

Bok coach Heyneke Meyer said that Botha had informed him of his decision to retire during their Monday one-on-one session in Padova. It had also taken him by surprise.

"He always put his body on the line he realised that the Boks jersey is bigger than the individual," Meyer said.

"I was taken aback and asked him to think about it. I wanted to give him one last game and then bring Eben (Etzebeth) and Lood (de Jager) in, but he said he had made up his mind."